Broom winding apparatus



Aug. 23, 1966 B. KOBACK BROOM WINDING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 27, 1964 Km H 96 B. KOBACK 3,268,261

BROOM WINDING APPARATUS Filed April 27, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Benjamin KbbGCk INVENTOR.

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Aug. 23, 1966 B. KQBACK 3,268,261

BROOM WINDING APPARATUS Filed April 27, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Benjamin [(bback INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,268,261 BROGM WINDING APPARATUS Benjamin Koback, Portland, Oreg., assignor to Ben-Ko- Matic, Inc., Portland, 0reg., a corporation of Oregon Filed Apr. 27, 1964, Ser. No. 362,758 6 Claims. (Cl. 300-14) This invention relates to broom-winding apparatus, operable to wind a rope or cable tightly about a broom core, in a helical groove provided along the outside of the core. The cable, during placement thereof in the groove, clamps return bend midportions of bristles in the groove, with the bristle ends then projecting radially out from the core. Brooms of this description are commonly used in various types of industrial sweepers.

In broom-winding machines of this description, the cable draws the bristles to the core, and problems have been encountered in properly bringing a series of transversely aligned bristles from a supply into contact with the cable with the cable properly positioned relative to the bristles. Generally, it is an object of this invention to provide improved means for performing this operation, whereby upon the bristles being clamped in place they are distributed in an orderly manner along the cable that secures them.

Broom bristles are supplied in bundles, and prior to contacting the cable the bristles are layered out in a thin layer, with the ends of the bristles aligned in a transverse direction. In broom-winding machines, mechanism must be provided to transport such a layer of bristles forwardly and toward the cable, without skewing, misalignment, or other disarrangement occurring. A more speccific object of the invention, therefore, is to provide in a broom-winding machine means for transporting a layer of such bristles against a cable with the cable contacting midportions of the bristles, which transports the bristles while effectively preventing them from skewing, twisting, or shifting relative to each other in a lengthwise direction.

Another object is to provide improved means for supplying bristles to the attaching cable of a broom winding machine, which is particularly well adapted to handle short bristles. A feature of the invention is the provision of a pair of bristle-bending chains, referred to broadly herein as belts, which support the bristles and in conjunction with the cable produce bending of the bristles about the cable. These chains, while the bristles are being bent, support the bristles independently of the chains or belts feeding bristles.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more fully apparent from the following description, which is to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, illustrating a broomwinding machine according to the invention, including means for supporting a broom core and means for supplying bristles to a cable prior to the cable being wound about the core;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, showing the broomwinding machine of FIG. 1 with the means for supplying bristles to a cable removed;

FIG. 3 (page 1) is a side elevation, on a somewhat enlarged scale, of the means shown in the machine of FIG. 1 for supplying bristles to a cable in advance of the cable being wound about a core;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view, taken along the lines 4--4 in FIG. 3, on a further enlarged scale;

FIG. 5 (page 2) is a view, taken along the line 55 in FIG. 4, on a still further enlarged scale, showing how bristles are bent by a cable and bristle-bending chains in the machine; and

FIG. 6 is an even further enlarged view, showing portions of a link of chain employed in the apparatus.

3,268,261 Patented August 23, 1966 "ice Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, in the embodiment of the apparatus illustrated a frame 10 is shown, including standards 12 and '14 at the ends of the frame and elongated longitudinals 16, 17, 18 and 19 extending between and connect ing standards 12 and 14.

Means is provided in the apparatus for holding the ends of a broom core, of the type illustrated in FIG. 2 at 20, with such core extending longitudinally of and within frame 16. More specifically, a chuck element is indicated at 22 which is adapted to be secured to one end of such a broom core, and chuck element 2 2 is mounted on a shaft 24 journaled on the frame as by hearing 267* Adjacent the other end of the frame, and mounted on a carriage 30 which is movable along the length of the frame, whereby the same may be advanced or retracted from chuck element 22, is a rotatable chuck element 34. Element 34 is adapted to be secured to the other end of core 20. With a broom core mounted between the two chuck elements, the axis of the broom core extends longitudinally of frame 10, and the broom core itself is rotatable about its longitudinal axis. Hand wheel and screw mechanism 32 may be adjusted for the purpose of clamping carriage 30 in a given position on frame 10.

Power-operated means or motor 38 is provided for rotating the broom core. Motor :38 is mounted on a table 36 provided within the frame adjacent one of its ends. The output shaft (not shown) of motor 38 is connected to shaft 24 and chuck element 22 through powertransmitting means 40.

As shown in FIG. 1, a second carriage, indicated at 50, is supported on longitudinals 17 and .18 and this carriage also is movable longitudinally of frame 10. As will be described in more detail below, mounted on the carriage is a table 54 (which is included for the purpose of holding a supply of loose bristles), and a cable drum 56, upon which is wound a cable or line 58.

In operating the apparatus, the end of the cable is attached to one end of broom core 20. The broom core is then rotated slowly, to wind the cable tightly in the helical groove 60 (see FIG. 2) which extends around the outside of the broom core. As the cable is wound around the core, mechanism carried on carriage 50 and to be described transports bristles distributed as a thin layer and while aligned transversely of their length forwardly to the underside of the cable. The cable comes down on midportions of the bristles, and on advancing to the core, bends the bristles at these midregions. With the cable finally seated in the groove, the bristle midportions are clamped securely in the groove, and the ends of the bristles project radially outwardly from the core. Reference is made to my co-pending application entitled Cylindrical Broom, Serial No. 348,678, filed March 2, 1964, now Patent No. 3,168,756, for a detailed description of a broom of this description.

Considering now in more detail carriage 50 and related structure and referring to FIG. 1, 62 indicates a panel upon which is mounted the necessary control equipment for the apparatus. Wheels journaled on the panel, including those shown at 64, 65, support the panel for longitudinal movement along longitudinals 18 and 19. Further securing the panel on the longitudinals are bars such as bar 66 which extend under the l-ongitudinals and are joined to the panel adjacent their opposite ends.

Connected to the carriage structure just described, and extending upwardly and forwardly therefrom in FIG. 1, are mounting plates 68. These may be joined adjacent their ends by a brace 70. At the base of the carriage structure, and connected thereto on either side thereof, are plates such as plate 72. Sets of plates 68, 72 provide a means for dependently supporting table 54, already mentioned, and a nose structure 74.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, nose structure 74 comprises a pair of laterally spaced vertical plates 75, joined to the underside of table 54, and projecting downwardly and forwardly from the forward end thereof. Bracing the plates and making the structure rigid are bars 76 adjacent the top of the nose structure. A cover plate 78 joins the lower margins of the two plates and an angle iron 80 (see FIG. 3) is provided in the connection of the plates to the underside of the table.

Nose structure 74 is dependently supported from plates 68 of the carriage through links 82, 83 extending between plates 68 and ear portions 84. Links 82, 83 are extensible and contractible, to accommodate adjustment in the position of the nose structure in the frame, through turning a hand wheel 86 which actuates screw mechanism (not shown).

' at 98 to plates 72 already mentioned.

Referring again to FIG. 1, a collection of broom bristles is shown at 100 adjacent the rear end of table 54. These may be supported a slight distance above the level of the table, by elongated rails 102 joined to the top of the table. When winding a broom, bristles may be shoved forwardly from the pile and manually distributed as a thin layer on table 54. The density of the bristles in the layer determines the density of the bristles in the final broom. 'On being slid forwardly on the table, the bristles slide over the rear ends of upper runs 104a of a pair of feed chains 104.

Feed chains 104 are mounted with their upper runs 104a parallel to and laterally spaced from each other. As best seen in FIGS. and 6, the chains are provided with angle pieces 106 secured to the links in the chain, each of which includes an arm that extends vertically upwardly and an arm that extends laterally of the chain. The upwardly extending arms, as the chains are moved, work their way between adjacent bristles. Thus the bristles, when seated on the chains, are carried forwardly positively, with the upwardly extending arms pulling the bristles forwardly and introducing a regular spacing between bristles. The chains are spaced some distance apart, and thus it is end portions of the bristles that are contacted by the chains. Since the chain runs are parallel, and the bristles are pulled adjacent their ends, the bristles move forwardly in an orderly manner without tending to become skewed, misaligned, bunched together, etc.

Adjustably mounted on table 54 are guides 108 which guide the ends of the bristles. As best seen in FIG. 4, these are fastened by fasteners 110 to the table. Fasteners 110 are adjustable in slots 112 provided in the table.

-In this way the position of the end guides may be changed to accommodate different lengths of bristles. The guides keep the ends of the various bristles in alignment in a transverse direction.

Feed chains 104, adjacent their forward extremities, are trained over sprockets 114 journaled in the side plates 75 of the nose structure. Adjacent their rear extremities, the chains are trained over sprockets 116 journaled on bearings 118 mounted on the base of table 54.

Extending forwardly of the forward extremities of the feed chains are the upper runs 120a of a pair of laterally spaced chains 120 referred to as bristle-bending chains. These chains are spaced closer together than chains 104 (in a lateral direction, between chains 104a), and in conjunction with cable 58 function to deform the bristles whereby they are bent in a reverse bend as they travel to the broom core while contacting the underside of the cable. In FIG. 5 bristles are shown which appear shorter nearer the top of the page, because of this bend ing of the bristles. With short bristles, a close spacing between chains is mandatory, as otherwise the ends of the bristles would move out of engagement with the chains as soon as middle portions were pulled downwardly to any appreciable extent below the plane of the upper runs.

Chains 120 at forward extremities are trained over sprockets 122 (see FIG. 3) journaled in the plates of the nose structure. Adjacent their rear extremities the chains are trained over sprockets 124.

Chains 120 also have angle pieces fastened thereto similar to angle pieces 106. These operate to space properly the bristles as they are bent and drawn to the core. With the relatively close lateral spacing of these chains, it is important in the invention that the return runs of the chains extend beneath the core being Wound, as this prevents pieces in these return runs from contacting bristles in the process of being pulled to the core thus to disarrange them.

Accordingly, it will be seen that adjacent the base of the nose structure are sprockets 128. These sprockets train the chains whereby they extend downwardly and around broom core 20. The chains in the nose structure are shielded on all sides by the plates of the nose structure.

The core being wound extends through the nose structure through apertures provided in plates 75. When mounting a new core in the machine, after mounting one end on one chuck, the other end of the core is placed through these apertures prior to mounting it on the other chuck.

As best seen in FIG. 4, between the upper runs of chains 120, bars 76 define an elongated slot 132. Bristles reversely bent at their midportions are drawn down through this slot with their ends trailing and sliding down over the edges of these bars. Functioning to assist in holding the bristles in an orderly manner prior to their being firmly attached to the drum core are elongated bars 134 which have forward ends pivoted at 136 (see FIG. 3) to the nose structure, and tapered rear ends 134a. Pivoted bars 134 may be interconnected as by fastener 136 (see FIG. 4) adjacent their rear ends. As bristles are advanced by chains 120, they slide under the tapered ends of these bars, and end margins thence tend to be engaged frictionally between the undersides of the pivoted bars and the upper sides of bars 76.

Cable drum 56 has already been described. Cable or line 58 Wound on the drum extends downwardly from the drum (see FIG. 3) and thence over a pulley 140. From pulley 140, the cable passes through slot 132 to the broom core. On the cable passing through slot 132, the underside thereof engages central portions of successive bristles, and thence pulls these portions downwardly, with the bristles being reversely bent to assume their final shape. On the cable becoming wound on the broom core, the bristles become firmly clamped in place.

It should be noted that chains 120, 104 overlap adjacent where the cable passes down through slot 132. It will be remembered that the feed chains are spaced a relatively wide distance apart, whereas the bristle-bending chains are considerably closer. With the chains that support the bristles during their bending being necessarily much closer together, it is important that the cable contact the bristles soon after they leave and cease to be supported by chains 104, in order to inhibit disarrangement of the bristles.

Brake mechanism'is shown at 142 which may be actuated to brake the cable drum. Upon the drum being A motor 144 is actuated to move the feed chains and chains 120. The motor is connected by chain or belt 146 to drive shaft 148 which supports sprockets 116. A shaft 150 has sprockets 114, 124 secured thereto, and thus drive is transmitted from the feed chains to chains 120. The various chains are driven so that upper runs move forwardly at the same speed.

During the winding of cable on the broom core, the core is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 3. A crescent shaped guide 152 deflects newly positioned bristles whereby their ends move through apertures 130 and out of the way of bristles in the process of traveling to the core. Note that the guide extends through the nose structure, best seen in FIG. 4. Guide 152 is mounted on the nose structure through an arm 154 fastened by fasteners 156 to plate 75. A handle 158 is joined to the arm. Upon loosening fasteners 156, the handle may be employed to adjust the position of the guide relative to the core being wound.

Mounted on the opposite side of the nose structure is a wheel 160 journaled on an arm 164 similar to arm 154. This arm also is adjustable, to accommodate change in wheel position.

Wheel 160 is included for the purpose of riding in helical groove 60 on the outside of the core. By so doing, the wheel produces movement of the nose structure, table, and carriage longitudinally of frame as successive portions of the core are wound with cable.

The operation of the apparatus described should be clear from the above. Briefly, bristles are placed on the table and layered out by hand or other means to bring them into proximity of the feed chains. These relatively widely spaced chains move forwardly with the bristles held on in orderly manner and guided by the end guides. The bristles are then deposited on chains 120, and these chains transport the bristles forwardly under the line or cable payed out from drum 56. The bristles are reversely bent by the cable, and ultimately clamped on the broom core by the cable.

With the special feed chains and with the bristle-bending chains described, substantially shorter bristles may be handled than possible with conventional apparatus. By eliminating any return runs of chains 120 in the region which the bristles pass through on traveling to the broom core, disarrangement in this region is inhibited. With the guide described, broom bristles are deflected after being laid on the core, to place their ends on the other side of the nose structure. The plates in the nose structure completely guard the moving chains which carry the bristles.

While an embodiment of the invention has been described above, it is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention. It is desired to cover all such changes and variations as would be apparent to one skilled in the art, and which come within the scope of the appended claims.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In apparatus for winding bristles on a broom, where said bristles are secured to a core by a line passed over the bristles with the bristles bent around the line,

means for holding a supply of loose bristles,

a pair of laterally spaced continuous feed belts for transporting bristles, mounted with upper runs in a common plane, and with said runs extending forwardly from said means for holding a supply of bristles,

a pair of laterally spaced continuous bristle-bending belts, mounted with upper runs in said common plane, and with said runs extending forwardly from the upper runs of said feed belts in said common plane,

said upper runs of said bristle-bending belts having rear ends overlapped with forward ends of said upper runs of said feed belts,

said bristle-bending belts being spaced laterally from each other and in a lateral direction being disposed intermediate said feed belts,

means defining a slot between said bristle-bending belts through which a line may pass and, together with such line, bent bristles carried by the line, and

means for feeding a line through said slot with the line intersecting the plane defined by the upper runs of the bristle-bending belts adjacent where said bristle-bending belts are overlapped with said feed belts.

2. In apparatus for winding bristles on a broom, where said bristles are secured to a core by a line passed over the bristles with the bristles bent around the line,

means for holding a supply of loose bristles,

a pair of laterally spaced continuous feed belts for transporting bristles, mounted with upper runs in a common plane, and with said runs extending forwardly from said means for holding a supply of bristles,

a pair of laterally spaced continuous bristle-bending belts, mounted with upper runs in said common plane, and with said runs extending forwardly from.

the runs of said feed belts in said common plane,

said upper runs of said bristle-bending belts having rear ends overlapped with forward ends of said upper runs of said feed belts,

said bristle-deforming belts being spaced laterally from each other and in a lateral direction being disposed intermediate said feed belts,

means defining a slot between said bristle-bending belts through which a line may pass and, together with such line, bent bristles carried by the line,

means for feeding a line through said slot with the line intersecting the plane defined by the upper runs of the bristle-bending belts adjacent where said bristlebending belts are overlapped with said feed belts, and

power-driven means for moving said feed and bristlebending belts at substantially the same speed and in the same direction.

3. In apparatus for mounting bristles on a broom where said bristles are attached to a broom core by a line passed over the bristles with the bristles bent around the line,

a frame, and core mounting means on the frame for rotatably mounting a broom core,

a carriage mounted on the frame for movement in a direction substantially paralleling the axis of a core mounted on said core mounting means,

a pair of elongated continuous bristle-bending belts,

means on said carriage mounting said belts with the belts disposed side-by-side and trained so that upper runs extend forwardly over the top of a core mounted on said core mounting means, and thence return in return runs that extend under the core,

said bristle-bending belts being spaced laterally from each other along said upper runs,

means defining a slot between said belts along their said upper runs, accommodating the passage of a line which is windable on the core, and

feed means for feeding bristles to the upper runs of the bristle-bending belts.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said feed means comprises a pair of elongated continuous belts, having upper runs with forward ends overlapped with rear ends of the upper runs of said bristle-bending belts, and said belts of said feed means are spaced laterally from each other and in a lateral direction are laterally outwardly of the upper runs of said bristle-bending belts.

5. In apparatus for mounting bristles on a broom where said bristles are mounted on a helically grooved broom core by a line passed over the bristles and wound on the core with the bristles bent around the line,

a frame,

core mounting means on the frame for rotatably mounting the broom core,

said core mounting means including means adjustable axially of the broom core to come against the ends thereof,

a carriage mounted on the frame for movement in a direction paralleling the axis of a core mounted on said core mounting means,

a pair of elongated continuous chains for supporting bristles as they are bent and carried by the line to the core, and

nose structure mounted on said carriage mounting the chains including an aperture extending therethrough which accommodates a core mounted on said core mounting means,

said nose structure including sprockets distributed circumferentially about said aperture for training said chains,

said sprockets supporting the chains with the chains spaced laterally from each other and extending in an upper reach which extends over the aperture and a return reach which extends beneath the aperture,

said nose structure also including means defining a slot disposed between the upper runs of said chains through which a line may pass which is to be wound on a core. 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said nose structure includes means mounted thereon producing movement of the nose structure along a broom core by following the helical groove therein, and

means which travels along the broom core as the nose structure is moved by said first-mentioned means which is efiective to divert bristles supported by the broom core through said aperture and laterally to one side of bristles in the process of being transported toward the core.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 737,381 8/1903 Franz 30014 2,927,820 3/1960 Pierce 300l4 2,938,750 5/1960 Kob ack 30014 GRANVILLE Y. CUSTER, 111., Primary Examiner. 

1. IN APPARATUS FOR WINDING BRISTLES ON A BROOM, WHERE SAID BRISTLES ARE SECURED TO A CORE BY A LINE PASSED OVER THE BRISTLES WITH THE BRISTLES BENT AROUND THE LINES, MEANS FOR HOLDING A SUPPLY OF LOOSE BRISTLES, A PAIR OF LATERALLY SPACED CONTINUOUS FEED BELTS FOR TRANSPORTING BRISTLES, MOUNTED WITH UPPER RUNS IN A COMMON PLANE, AND WITH SAID RUNS EXTENDING FORWARDLY FROM SAID MEANS FOR HOLDING A SUPPLY OF BRISTLES, A PAIR OF LATERALLY SPACED CONTINUOUS BRISTLE-BENDING BELTS, MOUNTED WITH UPPER RUNS IN SAID COMMON PLANE, AND WITH SAID RUNS EXTENDING FORWARDLY FROM THE UPPER RUNS OF SAID FEED BELTS IN SAID COMMON PLANE, SAID UPPER RUNS OF SAID BRISTLE-BENDING BELTS HAVING REAR ENDS OVERLAPPED WITH FORWARD ENDS OF SAID UPPER RUNS OF SAID FEED BELTS, SAID BRISTLE-BENDING BELTS BEING SPACED LATERALLY FROM EACH OTHER AND IN A LATERAL DIRECTION BEING DISPOSED INTERMEDIATE SAID FEED BELTS, MEANS DEFINING A SLOT BETWEEN SAID BRISTLE-BENDING BELTS THROUGH WHICH A LINE MAY PASS AND, TOGETHER WITH SUCH LINE, BENT BRISTLES CARRIED BY LINE, AND MEANS FOR FEEDING A LINE THROUGH SAID SLOT WITH THE LINE INTERSECTING THE PLANE DEFINED BY THE UPPER RUNS OF THE BRISTLE-BENDING BELTS ADJACENT WHERE SAID BRISTLE-BENDING BELTS ARE OVERLAPPING WITH SAID FEED BELTS. 